EXTREME DAYS

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: crude humor

Rated:

In view of all the recent "road trip" movies that trap teenagers into watching sexually-charged filth, Christian filmmakers have attempted to come up with a clean alternative. The result is Extreme Days, a film that soars, glides, bikes, and surfs across the West with a few good lines, one or two memorable scenes, and a whole lotta action. Corey, Bryan, Will, and Matt are four long-time friends fresh out of high school whose desire is to drive across California and engage in some extreme action. This troublesome foursome can usually be found engaging themselves in snowboarding, biking, skateboarding, surfing, and rollerblading while plotting and carrying out warfare with their loaded paint guns.

Having worked all summer and saved up for the trip, they jump into the "Joyota," a car of their own making, and set out to make some waves. Corey is the humorous daredevil of the bunch, a Chinese kid with a great sense of humor. Will is the more serious of them all (which wouldn't be hard), with his video camera and keen ideas. Matt is the "crazy one," always up for a death-defying plot or a seemingly insane idea. And Bryan is the ladies' man... a good looking, intelligent jock. After a few days on the road, tragedy strikes.. Corey's beloved grandfather has passed away and he's expected to return home. But instead, the boys agree to accompany him on the long drive up to Seattle to receive his inheritance. On the way they meet Jesse, a beautiful, athletic blonde who just happens to be Matt's long-lost cousin. With her car temporarily out of commission, she agrees to accompany them on-condition up to Seattle, where she has a job waiting for her. Bryan, naturally, has his eye on Jesse and makes Corey a bet that he can win her over by the end of the summer.

But Jesse isn't easy game... she almost behaves as though she knows what he's up to, and uses every excuse known to man to avoid even fetching tick tacks for him. It's a long road, and a few surprises may await them at their final destination. It's a trip that will strengthen the bonds of friendship, break more than a few hearts, and flirt with danger. Even then, Extreme Days isn't all that it could be. For a Christian film it's surprisingly ordinary. They do have some good conversations about God, death, abstinence, and friendship, but they're jammed in between the slapstick teenage humor, so they don't carry all that powerful of a punch.

The sports scenes are well filmed... but unless you're into biking, blading, and surfing you'll get bored with the long cuts where little dialogue intrudes (and obviously it's not the actors). The pounding rap soundtrack is also grating on the nerves, although never inappropriate. There isn't any language and very little sensuality (just a brief talk from Jesse on why she's choosing to wait for her wedding night), but there are stupid pranks and crude jokes. The boys race through the supermarket and wind up practically demolishing the place (and very nearly upsetting an old lady in the meantime). The boys can be found lighting their wind in a darkened hotel room, and Matt is always running either to or from the bathroom.

Most younger teens will probably love it, since it is a lot of fun and does teach some good messages. At least it smashes the theory that being a Christian isn't a bore. But I found it rather immature... the jokes and gags are childish, the infamous "karate camp fight" pathetic, and the ending is rather predictable and flat. It was fun while it lasted, but I can't say I'd watch it twice.